Randolph County Heritage Museum to open Ruth Ann Cox Gallery

The Randolph County Heritage Museum is set to unveil the new Ruth Ann Cox Agricultural and Rural Life Gallery on Saturday (March 7). Long-time museum supporter Don Cox donated more than $150,000 toward the gallery.

This expansion represents the most significant investment in the museum’s 20-year history and marks a transformative moment for local heritage preservation in Randolph County, said Rodney Harris, president of the Randolph County Heritage Museum.

“The new gallery has been made possible through an extraordinary and generous gift from Don Cox and the Cox family in memory of Ruth Ann Cox,” Harris said. “Their landmark contribution has more than doubled the museum’s exhibit space, ushering in a new era for the institution and its ability to serve the community.”

The Ruth Ann Cox Agricultural and Rural Life Gallery recognizes the farmers, families, and rural traditions that shaped Randolph County. Through artifacts, photographs, interpretive displays, and immersive storytelling, the gallery highlights the agricultural heritage that remains central to the identity of Pocahontas and the surrounding region, according to the museum.

“This expansion allows us to tell the story of Randolph County and Pocahontas with greater depth, clarity, and vision than ever before,” Harris said. “The Cox family’s generosity ensures that the history of our rural communities, the fields, the farms, the faith, and the families, will be preserved and shared for generations to come.”

With the additional space, the museum can now present a broader and more comprehensive narrative of local history, connecting agricultural development to commerce, industry, education, and civic life. The expanded facility strengthens the museum’s role as a cultural anchor in downtown Pocahontas and as a gathering place for the community.